Adjustable power saw jig for cutting tapered table legs



Jan. 7, 1964 G. GUNDERSON 3,116,769

ADJUSTABLE POWER SAW JIG FOR CUTTING TAPERED TABLE LEGS Filed Feb. 8, 1962 INVENTOR- 62/6011 6:1]?(16'125012.

United States Patent 3,116,769 ADJUSTABLE POWER SAW JIG FOR CUTTING TAPERED TABLE LEGS Gilbert L. Gunderson, Alexander, N. Dak. Filed Feb. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 171,834 3 Claims. (Cl. 143-169) This invention relates generally to supplementary equipment for power saws, and more specifically to a jig for cutting tapered table legs of varying lengths.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide an adjustable jig which may be removably mounted on a saw table for the purpose of simplifying the forming of tapered table legs.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an adjustable jig of the above class wherein legs may be constructed having any desired degree of taper.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide an adjustable leg forming jig which comprises an elongated body portion adapted to slideably locate in a tenon groove of a power saw table. The body mounts a number of raised channels disposed normally across the width thereof and spaced from each other longitudinally of the body. These channels selectively receive an adjustable mounting fixture which cooperates with a similar fixture permanently secured to one end of the body, the said fixtures mounting opposite ends of a leg therebetween and maintaining the same in correct alignment with the table saw.

A full understanding of the construction of this invention, together with further novel features and advantages, will be had from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the adjustable jig.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the assembled jig.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional end elevation taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectional side elevation taken along the line 4 4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the adjustable mounting fixture which removably locates in the body channel.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the number 6 represents an elongated body or slide of generally rectangular shape. The slide is preferably made of aluminum and is shaped with a longitudinally extending groove 7 extending centrally of the width thereof. The groove may be formed by pressing so as to create a central rib 8 which protrudes along the underside of the slide, the said rib adapted to slideably engage in the miter gauge groove of a power saw table. Upstanding from the upper side 9 of the slide are a number of transverse ribs 10 which form dovetail channels 11 longitudinally spaced from one another along the length of the slide. The channels are located at four and a half inches, seven inches, thirteen inches, seventeen inches, twenty-two inches, and twentynine inches respectively from one end 12 of the slide.

Two mounting fixtures generally indicated at 13 cooperate with the slide or body 6 to hold and adjust the position of the leg relative to the saw. Each fixture comprises an upstanding plate 14 having a dovetailed rib 15 extending along the lower edge 16 of the plate for Patented Jan. 7, 1964:

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locating in any selected channel 11. A dovetailed groove 17 is formed horizontally across one side of the plate 14 to slideably receive a mounting arm 18 therein. A rectangular slot 19 is formed transversely through the centre of the dovetailed rib 15 to receive a locking slide 2i) therethrough for the purpose of restraining the plate from transverse movement relative to the slide 6. The locking slide comprises a rectangular block 21 which is tapered at one end 22 and is adapted to slide in the groove 7 as best seen in FIG. 4, of the drawings. A recess 23 formed in the underside of the block 21 receives a spring loaded ball 24 suitably restricted so as to protrude from the underside of the block and selectively engage in small depressions 25 disposed in the groove 7 at the points of intersection with the dovetailed channels 11. A finger hold 26 projects upwardly from the opposite end of the block to simplify insertion and removal of the block into position.

An end plate 27 projects normally to one side of the plate 14 and is secured to one end thereof. A threaded rod 28 extends through the plate 27 and terminates at one end 29 in fixed engagement with the exposed side 36 of the mounting arm 18. An adjustment wheel 31 is threadably received on the rod 28 and is disposed on the outer side of the end plate 27 for rotative engagement thereagainst. The wheel 31 has a small collet 32 which protrudes through the plate 27 and is engaged by a bifurcated locking clip 33 disposed on the inner side of the plate 27 and secured thereto by means of a screw 34. Sue of the mounting fixtures 13 is permanently secured to upstand from the end 12 of the slide body 6. The mounting arm 18 projects beyond the plate 14 and terminates with a center point 35 which threadably and adjustably projects through the said arm.

In operation, the slide or body 6 is mounted in position in a convenient miter gauge groove on the bench saw table. A length of wood is now out to the required length and is accurately centered at each end by means of a small nail punch, the said centered ends being adapted to mount the leg between the center points 35 of the opposing mounting fixtures 13. The adjustable fixture 13 is now positioned in the appropriate channel 11 and the leg is locked into position between the center points. Transverse adjustment of the two mounting arms 18 is now made so as to create the desired taper to be formed in the leg sides. It will be appreciated that both square and round legs may be made with this jig, and it is recommended when forming round legs to turn the leg about one eighth of a turn at each cut untili the approximate shape ha sbeen created.

Having described the invention in a preferred form, it will be appreciated that some modifications may be made to the precise configuration, without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention, as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. An adjustable jig for making tapered legs on a power saw, and comprising, an elongated slide, a groove extending longitudinally of the upper side of the slide, a rib protruding beneath the slide in vertical alignment with the groove, said rib adapted to slideably locate in the miter groove associated with the power saw, a number of transverse ribs upstanding from the upper side of the slide, said ribs forming dovetail channels spaced apart longitudinally of the slide, a mounting fixture secured to one end of the slide and upstanding normally thereto, a second mounting fixture selectively mounted in any one of said dovetail channels, locking means slidably received within said groove of said slide releasahly engageable with said second mounting fixture to releasahly secure said second mounting fixture in one of said channels, and each of said fixtures having a mounting arm adjustably extending laterally therefrom to receive the end of a table leg.

2. An adjustable jig according to claim 1 wherein, said mounting arms are restricted to movement in a horizontal plane transversely to the slide, and adjustable centers extending through the ends of the arms to lockably mount the centered ends of the leg therebetween.

3. An adjustable jig according to claim 2 wherein each of said fixtures comprise a vertically disposed, transversely extending plate terminating at one end with a '4 transverse end plate, a threaded rod extending through the end plate and secured at one end to the mounting arm, an adjustment Wheel and nut mounted on the rod and retained against axial movement adjacent said end plate on the outer side thereof, said Wheel cooperating with the rod to extend said arm.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 362,082 Holz et a1. May 3, 1887 396,283 Mackintosh Jan. 15, 1839 469,938 Flint Mar. 1, 1892 1,226,825 Stewart May 22, 1917 2,001,306 Greasner May 14, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS 605,319 Canada Sept. 20, 1960 

1. AN ADJUSTABLE JIG FOR MAKING TAPERED LEGS ON A POWER SAW, AND COMPRISING, AN ELONGATED SLIDE, A GROOVE EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF THE UPPER SIDE OF THE SLIDE, A RIB PROTRUDING BENEATH THE SLIDE IN VERTICAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE GROOVE, SAID RIB ADAPTED TO SLIDEABLY LOCATE IN THE MITER GROOVE ASSOCIATED WITH THE POWER SAW, A NUMBER OF TRANSVERSE RIBS UPSTANDING FROM THE UPPER SIDE OF THE SLIDE, SAID RIBS FORMING DOVETAIL CHANNELS SPACED APART LONGITUDINALLY OF THE SLIDE, A MOUNTING FIXTURE SECURED TO ONE END OF THE SLIDE AND UPSTANDING NORMALLY THERETO, A SECOND MOUNTING FIXTURE SELECTIVELY MOUNTED IN ANY ONE OF SAID DOVETAIL CHANNELS, LOCKING MEANS SLIDABLY RECEIVED WITHIN SAID GROOVE OF SAID SLIDE RELEASABLY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID SECOND MOUNTING FIXTURE TO RELEASABLY SECURE SAID SECOND MOUNTING FIXTURE IN ONE OF SAID CHANNELS, AND EACH OF SAID FIXTURE HAVING A MOUNTING ARM ADJUSTBLY EXTENDING LATERALLY THEREFROM TO RECEIVE THE END OF A TABLE LEG. 